New York Knicks To Target Marc Gasol

The New York Knicks are likely going to target Memphis Grizzlies‘ center Marc Gasol, hoping to team the 2012-2013 Defensive Player of the Year with star forward Carmelo Anthony to make them a legitimate NBA Finals contender

More from Memphis Grizzlies

It was a very busy offseason for the New York Knicks.

They hired Phil Jackson as their president and he made several big moves. He dealt point guard Raymond Felton and center Tyson Chandler to the Dallas Mavericks for a package that included point guard Jose Calderon, three other players and two second round picks.

Jackson then named Derek Fisher, who played for Jackson with the Los Angeles Lakers (and also played for the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder), as the Knicks’ head coach.

Most importantly, Jackson convinced star forward Carmelo Anthony to return to the Knicks on a five-year, $124 million deal. Jackson obviously presented Anthony with a plan that likely includes pursuing stars once the contracts of big men Amar’e Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani come of of the books in the offseason.

The play that many believe tops their board is Memphis Grizzlies’ center Marc Gasol, who will become an unrestricted free agent in 2015.

“The New York Knicks don’t appear positioned to be a championship contender in the near future,” writes Ronald Tillery of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. “But could that change by pairing Gasol with Carmelo Anthony? There already is a strong belief that Knicks boss Phil Jackson will target Gasol because of his belief that Gasol is the quintessential center to play in the triangle offense.”

This is nothing new. Gasol has been connected to the Knicks for some time and it is believed Jackson’s relationship with his brother, Chicago Bulls‘ big man Pau Gasol, could give the Knicks an advantage.

Marc Gasol missed 23 games because of injuries but still averaged 14.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 47.3% from the field, 18.2% from beyond the arc and 76.8% from the free throw line last season.

The New York Knicks are likely going to target Memphis Grizzlies‘ center Marc Gasol, hoping to team the 2012-2013 Defensive Player of the Year with star forward Carmelo Anthony to make them a legitimate NBA Finals contender

More from FanSided